Shame

Few more lines appeared with anxiety on the foreheads of Mr.Arun and his wife . They kept their heads down for long, unable to put up with the consoling words of relatives and neighbours. A few of them in the vicinity tried peeping out their heads with curiosity. A few relatives gently patted the shoulders of Arun ," It shouldn't have happened to Anita. She should have been a bit more careful of herself; It seems like everyone stares at her" sighed Mr. Batra .Mr. Arun's head had still not been lifted. Media lights and mikes thronged in number in the morning and were sent out , accepting the invitation of the formal press meeting to be held with Anita. The entire room echoed with mild sobs and sighs. Grim looks , doleful faces hovered around and there was hardly any smile in the countenances except in the wall hangings of Anita . Anita, in the other room locked herself and sat idle on the cot with extreme calmness around. Her eyes were slightly drooped out of weariness and that too she had after crying for a while. Her pet dog tried pretending to be in a pensive mood like his master. He sat next to Anita with the comfort feeling of being with someone he loves the most. That evening the hall was filled with jostling press reporters with their mikes of different sizes and shapes kept together on the table in the front. It was Anita's press meet to share her reaction for her being captured nude at the reputed hotel bathroom where she was asked to stay at night for an interview she had for the next day. The pictures were leaked for the public to view on websites and one black sheep came across the snaps ,informed his uncle Mr. Arun about his daughter. The story , eventually appeared on dailies and ravenous Tv channels for TRP.As is the society so are the people and especially relatives made mountains of the issue, worrying about her future and her impending orphaned , unmarried status all her life . She sat in the middle chair with her parents on either sides. The reporters and the police hushed each other. One of the reporters slowly posed the usual frivolous question to Anita. "What did you feel when you saw yourself naked in the picture Anita?" The eyes of the reporters almost protruded to know her answer. Anita slowly replied exhaling her breath as if she had held it for long. "I saw myself; naked with shoulders broader with birth parts visible , I saw my hand, my arms , my thighs and I realized stretch marks on them. I didn't look lean . it was a celluloid figure I have right now. I think , I should consult a good trainer for workout. " With her reply everyone's mouth stayed wide agape, with an unanticipated look. Her parents looked at her, wondered if she was the same one who cried last night. she stood up, holding her parents and left the place with the shouts of "Madam" instead of "Anita".